Troll in Reviews

As has been noted, there is a troll in reviews spamming guest reviews and trying to frame people by writing their name in the name slot. Just ignore it. It's not worth the effort of paying attention to and I'm only writing this message so people are aware.

He's also pretending to be me by writing my name in guest review slots. I would only ever review something from this (logged-in) account.

Cover Art: Mystery White Flame

Chapter 50

Day two saw him back on his feet, but as Jaune walked into the Atlas conference room with its ginormous table, huge screens on the back wall and the red dots denoting Grimm in the tens of thousands around a map of Atlas, not to mention at least twenty-five men and women in military uniforms turning toward him, he wished he still had the excuse of recovery to fall back on.

"Arc." General Ironwood nodded politely, too distracted by current affairs to show any of his usual animosity. "Good to see you back on your feet. Take a seat and we'll begin."

The only spare chair was next to Ironwood, on his left while Winter took his right. There was even a small white triangle giving his name and title of `Headmaster of Beacon` laid out before it. Every single pair of eyes remained on him as he walked around, drew the seat out, sat and then scraped it back under. Judging gazes from people twenty to forty years his senior.

I'm the least qualified person in the room.

A depressingly familiar sentiment.

"Thank you all for coming," Ironwood began. "Before we start, Captain Vaughn, your report?"

A woman with short-cropped blonde hair and a square face stood. "Sir. In terms of distance the Grimm remain three days out, but repeated bombardment and a fighting retreat from the Specialists is pulling the Grimm left and right. We anticipate this will buy us an extra twenty-four to thirty-six hours. Aerial bombardment has sadly become inadvisable with the swarm of Nevermore and Gryphons, but artillery bombardment remains viable as a means of thinning out the horde."

Something that had been going on for days now. The constant boom or cannons or the thwoosh of dust missiles being launched. It was amazing how quickly the people down below had gotten used to it, continuing their day while millions of lien in military equipment were fired off into a horde of approaching evil.

"With the aid of Colonel Johnson of the Engineer Corps we've started pocketing the ground between the Grimm and Atlas. It might not slow them much, but it will grant us a little time and hopefully kill a couple hundred. That is all, sir."

"Thank you, Captain Vaughn. Specialist Schnee?"

"Sir." Winter stood. "Specialists teams have been skirmishing on the edges and behind the horde as per Bullhead insertion. The mindless nature of the Grimm is assisting us there, causing some to break off and pursue when they should continue marching ahead. Confirmed kills number in the hundreds, but Specialist Ebi says it is like trying to empty a lake with a spoon."

"That's good news then," someone else said. "We just need more spoons."

A few others chuckled along with that, even if Jaune could barely find the humour himself.

"What of the villages in between?"

"Sir." An elderly man stood. "Shining Light and Snowrift have been fully evacuated. We left the buildings standing to serve as obstacles rather than destroy them. That's the last of the civilians in their path."

"And the distant towns?" Ironwood asked.

"Transports have been dispatched along the coast of Atlas, circumnavigating the main danger. Mistral has agreed to act as a haven for them should the Grimm break off."

"Very good. There's little sign of that yet so let's not start an international panic. If the Grimm approach, tell them to make for Mistral."

The man saluted. "Sir."

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, that is the situation." Ironwood stood and moved to the large screens, everyone turning in their seats to follow. The images depicted Atlas huddled against the coast and the Grimm approaching from the east.

Angry red lines depicted their expected path, which essentially came down to ramming into Atlas and slowly encircling it not by design but physics, like water drifting around and surrounding an object.

"Initial estimates put the Grimm at two million strong, but repeated bombardment, shelling and efforts by military and air force alike have diminished that number. It is anticipated that, assuming no further reinforcements, the number will be as low as one million by the time they reach the walls."

That was good. Great even. It was crazy how he could think that with genuine enthusiasm, like one million Grimm was a small bump in the road. "If you've taken out that many then what's to stop you doing the same again and finishing the rest?" Jaune asked.

Almost all the military gave him the long look of adults dealing with a stupid child.

Jaune wilted.

"Arc has been out of the loop due to his convalescence," Ironwood came to his rescue. "As such, he's missed all previous meetings and reports." Some of the glares lessened. "The problems with that theory are twofold. One, the most damaging of our ordinance cannot be used at close range or was used on mountainsides triggering vast collateral damage. Naturally, we're not about to use that method on our civilians. Secondly, we are – to put it lightly – running out of ordinance. High Quartermaster?"

A larger man rose, sweating profusely. He wiped his brow with a handkerchief and put it away, moustache quivering. "Our supplies were low even before the attack thanks to repeated action against the White Fang and the tragedy of what happened in Vale. We lost a lot of our equipment and the SDC refinery plants going down only weeks ago haven't helped. We can keep up heavy bombardment for one day and moderate for another after, but beyond that we'll be relying on small and medium arms fire."

"There you have it," Ironwood said. "Thank you, Quartermaster. This is not your fault."

"Y-Yes, General. Thank you for saying that but I take my failure seriously and will not ignore it."

The man sat after that, earning some respectful nods from those around him. Jaune had a feeling he'd be losing his job after or maybe even facing worse consequences. It didn't seem fair if it had been Jacques and Adam who caused this. Even from beyond the grave, they were both getting their last laughs in.

"Willow Schnee has asked to become my ward. Wouldn't that allow us more dust?"

"Your ward?" Ironwood's eyes narrowed. "We'll talk more on that later. For now, while it's true we'd have dust, we have that anyway." He waved to the screen. "This more than constitutes a military emergency, so we've already taken every spare spec of dust in the city. It's being rushed through manufacturing, but that still takes time. The Quartermaster's forecasts include what dust we've been able to reclaim from the SDC."

Well, that was bad. What purpose was he serving here again?

Ironwood linked his hands behind his back. "We will now be taking proposals."

A woman stood. She had longer, brown hair tied in a ponytail and her outfit was much more formal than most of the other ones. Black and silver, with a folding lapel, shoulder epaulettes and three studded stars on her shoulder. The patch on her breast showed three differently shaped aircraft taking off in three directions. Likely the aerial cadre of Atlas military.

"Sir, we propose to take our aircraft off base and station them in Vale, with the approval of the Vale Council. There is already a forward airbase set up on the northern peninsula that would suit our purposes. Taking off and landing in Atlas in the midst of an attack will be next to impossible due both to interference from Grimm, and the fact we'll be surrounded on all sides. From Vale, we could launch waves of attacks designed to thin off the horde's outer edges."

Muttering and chatter, with several people nodding and others arguing. In the end, Ironwood banged his robotic hand on the table. "Enough. All in favour, hands raised." Almost three quarters did so. Jaune didn't, but only because he had no idea what was best. "Granted. Contact Vale to get this enabled."

"With all due respect, sir," the woman continued, "Can we count on the political support of Beacon's Headmaster for this?"

All eyes turned to him. Ironwood's too.

"Yes." Jaune nodded. "I'll approve it."

"Thank you." The woman bowed her head. "That may go some way to alleviating concerns."

"Speaking of Beacon," another man said, rising as the woman sat. "Can we expect reinforcements from Beacon? We did move to the defence of it when the school came under attack…"

You also were the ones to technically attack out school.

"Huntsmen and students from Beacon will be coming, but we're waiting on the method for that. We may have something that could help us out there and even allow for rapid evacuation of civilians from Atlas." His words earned interested murmurs and quickened conversation. "But I can't promise anything yet!" he shouted over the noise. "It's not something we have. More someone we have to ask to help us."

"Lean on them, then," Ironwood said. "If that fails, what of boots on the ground?"

"Vale doesn't have a military…" He'd been thinking of pushing for one in light of the fact they had a freaking immortal witch-queen trying to kill them all, but there just hadn't been the time. It would take years to get such a thing going. "But I've already had Glynda make the call for huntsmen and a lot of people are responding. I'm sure there will be some reinforcements, but I can't say how many. They'll be high quality, though."

It felt so little compared to Atlas. A full military. Artillery, air force, naval – all the things Vale couldn't respond with. Sure, huntsmen were in theory stronger than all of those, but you couldn't fault a single person flying a Bullhead killing ten or more Grimm.

"Beacon has some vehicles," someone muttered.

"You'll have our Bullheads," Jaune promised. "For what little they're worth compared to your battleships…"

"At this point, we need everything." James sighed. "Our battleships will remain in station over the sea. We can't risk one being brought down on the city. They'll provide air cover and long-range support as possible. The Knight and AI-controlled Paladin units will be used in the first wave so as to prevent a repeat of the disaster in Vale. Any questions?"

There were none.

"We shall meet again tomorrow to discuss how the next twenty-four hours have progressed. Until then, dismissed and good luck to us all."

/-/

"How was it?" Glynda asked.

"Serious, heavy and confusing. I have no idea what my presence offers."

"Assurance. Legitimacy. Image. It's not so much what you provide but that you're seen to be offering whatever you can. People see you as one of the greatest minds of Remnant." She laughed at his horrified expression. "It's true. They want to be assured Atlas is taking advice from the best, so James has to invite you."

One of the greatest minds? That was ridiculous. He couldn't fix a tie without strangling himself. Groaning, he sat back on the bed and laid out flat, already missing the relative peace of Beacon and the absence of all of this. He'd presumably been seen as a genius there as well, but at least the academy looked after itself.

"We should have some early reinforcements from Beacon today," Glynda continued. "Not enough to make a difference, but better than none. It should bolster morale."

"That's all it'll do. Even if we bring everyone from Beacon that's a few hundred students and a handful of teachers. That's not going to push this back."

"One student might…"

Jaune and Glynda looked to the third wheel in the room. The third wheel in every aspect of their life. Cinder Fall, as instructed by Ironwood, remained within sight at all times. Why she had chosen to sit on a dresser instead of her bed or any of the chairs in the room, he didn't know. No, wait, she uncrossed her legs and flashed him a glimpse of black lingerie. That was why she'd chosen to sit higher. Jaune covered his face and groaned again.

Glynda frowned. "I hope you're not suggesting what I think you are, Fall."

"I may be. That depends on what you think I'm suggesting."

"Can we not do the `I know that you know that I know` routine right now?" Jaune asked. "Cinder. Talk. Say your piece."

"Hmm. Thank you, Jaune. Simply put, numbers won't make a difference here, as you've so accurately noted. Atlas already provides that. What you need is quality – immense and overpowering quality, the likes of which few in Remnant can match. A power limited to only four people currently alive."

Four…?

"Pyrrha…"

"Correct. The power of the maiden. It was exhilarating to hold it for even a short time." Cinder stared at her hand, turning it before her and shuddering. "Such raw power burning through my body, granting me the strength to accomplish anything. To best anything. A power so unbeatable that no one could challenge me."

"Except Jaune."

Cinder glared at a smugly smiling Glynda. "Except Jaune," she admitted, "But he is an exception and the Grimm are hardly known for their grand strategy. Raw power may be all you need to defeat them, and Pyrrha Nikos has that in spades."

Magic. The power of the maiden. Maybe it was a question best posed with Ozpin here, but even with him looking after Team RWBY, the point remained. Cinder had been capable of summoning storms of wind and lightning, any of which would wreak havoc on the Grimm if it could be controlled. Was Pyrrha at that level? Was it fair to expect it of her? Jaune looked to Glynda.

"Miss Nikos is a hard worker but she's yet to manifest the power…"

"I was able to manifest it almost immediately against Ozpin," Cinder said dismissively. "Within a month, I had enough power to throw it out. Full control was beyond me, but raw and untamed power was not."

"You're not Miss Nikos. If she needs more time, she needs more time."

"Perhaps what she needs is for you to stop coddling her."

"When I want advice on teaching students, the last person I will go to is you!"

"Alas. Alack. Then we are out of options." Cinder smiled strangely. "Or are we? Is there not a second maiden nearby?"

Both Jaune and Glynda blinked. "Is there?" they asked in unison.

Cinder's smile fell. "W-Well, I believe so. Or I assume it. The Winter Maiden is supposed to be in Atlas and this is Ironwood we're talking about."

"Were you able to locate her when you were with your previous employer?"

"No, but the absence of a maiden is proof enough of her location. If she could not be found naturally, then someone is hiding her. Since that someone was not us, it can only be Ironwood. He's either looking to use the maiden himself or keeping her locked away. That isn't good enough. Power should be used."

Should it? Even if he wanted badly to side with Ironwood over Cinder, he couldn't count out her point. A maiden could make a big difference. Two maidens would be even more of one. Four would be the icing on the cake, but he doubted that was going to happen anytime soon.

"If James hasn't mentioned it to Jaune, chances are he doesn't intent do."

"Would he tell Ozpin?" Jaune asked.

"Perhaps, but I doubt Ozpin would agree with Cinder, even if she said the sky was blue. Not that I'm saying I agree with her either. Power can work as much against as for us if it's utilised improperly. A poorly trained Semblance can do more harm than good. Magic will work on the same principle."

"I've made my thoughts clear," Cinder said. "But they're only that. I'm merely a servant of the one I've chosen to dedicate myself to." Her eye locked onto his. "It's up to Jaune to decide what will be done, no?"

"Not here," Glynda said. "James is the one with the maiden, so whatever we think doesn't really matter."

"You're saying that he who holds the maiden makes the decisions on how she is used?"

Glynda rolled her eyes, not even paying attention. "In this case, yes."

"Well," Cinder leaned back. "That's interesting."

"Nothing else to say?"

"No. I believe I'm done. You should at least attempt to train Nikos to use the power. If it fails, you lose nothing but time. Succeed and we will all be better off."

Jaune looked to Glynda and the older woman nodded, conceding the point. It really was something they only stood to gain from and he was sure Pyrrha would be happy to volunteer. Given the last time they tried to keep her out of danger, she'd probably get angry if they didn't.

Or worse, she might try and take matters into her own hand. Pyrrha wasn't stupid and she knew the power she had and what it would mean. Better to work with her than leave her to her own devices and potentially force her to risk her life experimenting with the maiden's power.

"I'll speak to her," he said. "Will you help her, Glynda?"

"As best I can."

"Ask Ozpin to assist," Cinder suggested. "He knows the power best."

"Yes. For once, I suppose you're right – though that leaves you out of sight."

"I'm sure Jaune can handle keeping an eye on little old me." Cinder's smirk held an amused edge. Jaune had the sinking suspicion this was all coming to plan for her. "He's done it before."

"Yeah. Yeah, that'll be fine."

Glynda accepted that quickly enough. He had a feeling she was almost too happy to get away from Cinder. "I'll go and see about preparing a room for us to practice in then. Some degree of secrecy is still necessary so I'll speak to James."

"Good idea," Jaune said. "Grab Ozpin en route and explain the situation to him."

She nodded and left, door swishing shut behind her. The second it did, Jaune rounded on Cinder.

"No. Whatever you're planning, no."

"What am I planning, Jaune?" she asked innocently. "I'm right here in front of you. Surely you don't think little old I could outsmart your genius self?" She pointed at him as she said that, but not with her hand. She pointed with her foot, heel dangling from her toes.

"If Atlas falls, you fall with it."

"I'm aware. Salem will take great pleasure in making me suffer. Hence why I shall do what is necessary to ensure your victory." Her leg came down, foot touching the floor as she stood up and slowly walked toward him, hips swaying.

He held himself firm as she brought her hand to his cheek, cupping it and leaning in close, her other sneaking around his waist. Cinder was still beautiful despite the scar down one side of her face, concealed by her hair. Even so, he felt nervous rather than turned on.

"We can work together, Jaune. We could accomplish so much together."

"You're already working under me."

"Under you?" Her lips quirked. "I could get used to that." Her finger stroked down his neck to play over his chest, tracing circles above his breastplate. "I happen to think you're my best chance of coming out of this alive, not Ironwood. Do you believe I have our best interests in heart?"

"Yes. You'll die otherwise."

"Then trust in me a little."

His eyes narrowed. "You're asking a lot."

"I know. But I'm willing to provide a lot as well, and right now, we need that."

"High risk, high reward?"

"High risk. Complete survival. However, my plan, let's just say it may step on a few toes…"

"How many?"

"All of them. All the toes."

Why had he expected anything otherwise? His every instinct screamed no. Told him to reject whatever plan she had, lock her in a cage and bury said cage at the bottom of the ocean. And yet, Cinder knew their foes better than any other, and her plans had always been dangerously efficient. The only reason her original plan for Beacon didn't work was because she'd been infiltrated by himself, Neo and Roman.

Without that, she may well have conquered Beacon.

"Trust me?" she asked again, smiling coyly up at him.

Damn it.

"I'll trust you." He watched her smile grow even larger. Glynda was going to kill him, if Ozpin didn't get to him first. "Tell me your plan."

"It goes a little like this…"

/-/

The first of the Bullheads from Beacon touched down to no small fanfare. Despite it being little more than students and teachers, it was still allies from another nation coming to the defence of Atlas, which meant it was morale boosting news. Much like how the news liked to cover his mess of a relationship status because it kept people distracted from the horror outside, they wanted to cover Beacon's finest arriving, hence several video cameras set up nearby. If nothing else, they were at least polite enough to stay away and not crowd them.

The first of the Bullheads had already landed and the turbines were whirring to a stop. Jaune stood ahead of Team RWBY, who had come in the hopes of catching Team RVNN. Jaune spared a glance for Blake, who looked a little tired but was standing close to her team. It looked like she hadn't had much sleep, but it was a better showing than yesterday. She's getting better. It's just taking time.

The ramp hissed as it disconnected from the Bullhead's hull, coming down on a press of silver hydraulics.

A cigar flicked out before it had fully settled, and a boot crunched down on it. White coattails flared as Roman stepped out with a cocky grin and his hat dipping down his brow. He looked out at them, opened his mouth to speak and was immediately bowled over.

To be fair, he rolled with it. Roman hit the bottom step, tripped, slammed down and hastily swept back up to his feet, holding his hat down. He smiled again, trying to pretend he'd meant to be unceremoniously tossed down.

Neo didn't care. Touching down, she charged forward arms extended.

Jaune laughed awkwardly and opened his own, unable to do much else before she crashed into him, face pressed into his stomach and arms wrapped around his hips. He brought his own down on her shoulders.

Neo scowled and poked his stomach.

"What?" he asked.

Her mismatched eyes looked up at him, narrowed and surly. Her lips were pursed and she poked his stomach again, glaring at it like it had personally wronged her.

"I don't understand."

Sighing, Neo pushed away and walked past him. Jaune stood there, arms still open, unsure what he'd done to upset her.

"Huh. Neo?" Yang was dragged forward by one arm, Neo hauling her toward Jaune with a scowl. "What are you-" Yang was pushed in front of him. "I don't – whoah!" She fell, Neo having tripped her. Training kicking in, Yang caught herself on the floor on all fours. "What the hell is- H- hey!"

Neo stepped up onto Yang's back and hugged him again, this time able to wrap her arms around his neck and nuzzle her cheek against his.

"SINCE WHEN AM I YOUR FOOT STOOL!?" Yang roared.

She rolled away and Neo dropped. Pointedly, she didn't let go of his neck. Jaune stumbled forward and caught her, wrapping his hands around her rear. Neo, apparently deciding that was more than fine, hooked her legs under his armpits, holding on like a limpet and hugging him, eyes closed and smile bright and happy.

Ignorant to him almost tripping over Yang, almost falling and only just managing to stay upright with the sudden application of a human body to his chest. Yang growled as she stood and walked back to the others, eyes narrowed on an unrepentant Neo.

"N – Neo. I'm glad to see you too but there are people watching!"

Her eyes snapped open and she took in the cameras, all of which were focusing intently on them now. He saw the glimmer in her eyes and knew it was bad news, but with her currently fastened to his chest, there was little he could do. Her hands slapped onto his cheeks and held him still while she leaned in and sucked his soul out through his mouth.

Calling it a kiss would have meant too much. Neo rode his chest and gripped on tight with her knees to his side, able to hold on even as his arms waved wildly. She hunched up, kissing down on him in a manner so possessive Adam might have considered the brand to his face a charity.

Cameras flashed and journalists salivated.

Already, he could imagine the talk show hosts climaxing.

"W-Was that necessary?" he asked when she pulled away, smiling like the cat who'd caught, enslaved and subjugated the canary race.

Neo nodded once, pointed to Blake and then twisted her hand the other way up, extending a finger.

"I'm not even with him!" Blake yelled back.

"Yeah." Yang shouted. "She's only preggers with his kid. More than can be said for you."

"YANG! DON'T THROW ME TO THE WOLVES JUST TO GET BACK AT HER!"

Neo's eyes narrowed. Pushing back, she brought her face to his and pointed down. Down at her stomach.

"No."

She pouted.

"No," he said again. "That's both a terrible reason to consider having a child and not the time at all. Also, can you get off? I need to welcome the oth- that's not what I meant by getting off!" The latter came out as a squeal because Neo had nodded happily and reached down between her legs.

Her grin was just a little too wide to be serious.

"Stop teasing me and get down," he said, putting her feet on the floor. "A height difference is no reason to use friends as step ladders either. And you," he said, turning to Roman. "You're her apparent father figure. Don't you have something to say?"

Roman wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "I'm so proud."

Idiot. Ignoring the theatrical thief, Jaune turned back to the Bullhead in a desperate attempt to regain some semblance of professionalism. There wasn't much hope of that now but he tried. The next to come from the Bullhead were Team RVNN as expected. Jaune waited for them to come down and stepped forward.

"Team RVNN. Welcome. Glynda will get your rooms sorted for you, but I'm sure Team RWBY will be happy to show you all around. How is Beacon?"

"Still standing," Ren said. He smiled faintly. "Somehow. There are more people coming tomorrow but Professor Torchwick said we should show some face and that our team would be best because… well…"

"Because I'm a recognised face," Pyrrha said, exasperated. "So, despite me being a first year, I'm apparently more preferred here than a team about to graduate. Funny how that works."

"It's all image," Jaune said. "Why do you think they're photographing this in the first place?" He leaned in, voice quiet. "There are other reasons. Glynda will tell you more." Since he knew the rest of her team were listening in, he added, "And you can tell your team and Team RWBY if you want. Just keep it quiet outside that."

Team RVNN nodded and Jaune drew back.

"Who else has been brought along? Port? Oobleck?"

"Doctor Oobleck said he will stay at Beacon. His fighting style isn't suited to mass combat and someone needs to stay. Professor Port said he would come with the batch tomorrow to spread the faculty out."

"Makes sense. But in that case, who is in the second Bullhead?"

"Not who, sir," Nora chirped early. "What."

Jaune blinked. "What?"

The second Bullhead's ramp shuddered as it opened, forced off its hinges as a nightmarish shape burst forth in a spray of feathers. People screamed. Soldiers leapt for their weapons. Cameraman showed no regard for their lives and zoomed in.

A huge Grimm easily six feet tall burst from the Bullhead, squawking furiously. It locked eyes on him and lunged forward, talons skittering on the floor. Jaune stood, frozen, and then quickly abandoned as Team RVNN scattered.

The monster struck with the force of a bull, knocking him off his feet and to the floor. Its talons stabbed down on either side of him, wings spread. It cawed once loudly, then struck its beak down. And then, it started to warble, rubbing its beak up and down his chest.

"What the hell!?" Yang yelled. "It's huge!"

Jaune sighed. "Neo!"

His diminutive girlfriend popped into view from the side, smiling indulgently and stroking her pet Nevermore's neck. Her expression was nothing but loving as she rubbed her cheek against its deadly feathers. Knowing her, the lethality of the thing was part of what she loved about it.

"When did your Nevermore get this big?"

Neo hummed silently and made a so-so gesture with one hand. The crowds had started to figure out this wasn't an attack and calmed down. The soldiers apparently deciding that if it was a problem, the two groups of experienced huntsmen could better deal with it than they. Jaune tried to stand but ended up hugged and squashed into the thing's chest, his face full of feathers. It started pecking and scratching at his back.

"Is it trying to preen him?" Weiss asked, dumbfounded.

"It's kinda cute," Ruby said.

"Ruby, no. Just no."

"What?"

"You're not having one. I refuse to allow it."

"Aww, but Weiss. Look. Isn't it adorable?"

"NO!" Weiss, Yang, Blake and Oscar shouted in unison.

"Is anyone going to help get me out of this?" he asked loudly. The Nevermore pulled him closer, now trying to sit on and potentially incubate him. "Anyone? Anyone at all? No? No one? Neo?"

Neo rubbed her bird's head.

"Damn it all…"

/-/

"I must be drunk."

"I wish I was," Qrow responded, glaring down on his sister. "Look at you. Atlas under attack, the world preparing to defend it and you're here, getting drunk and doing nothing. How pathetic can you be?"

"Fuck you," Raven groused, not even making to get up. "For your information, I'm not sitting around doing nothing. The tribe is making preparations."

"To help…?"

"Fuck no. We're raiding a village while everyone is busy."

That rotten piece of shit. Qrow wished he could kick her ass all the way to the moon but apparently, for some stupid reason, Jaune and the others were counting on him to convince her to join them. It wasn't going to happen. He could of, and had, told them just that.

"Why are you here, Qrow? Oh, let me guess. It's time for your annual `come back, Raven, I know you can still be saved` speech. Shit, and I thought that wasn't due for another month or two." She snapped her fingers. "Guess I should keep a more accurate calendar."

"I don't think you can be saved at all. You're trash."

"Ooh. Argh. Be careful, dear brother, or I may combust from the heat of your sick burns." Rolling over, she yawned and pulled the blankets back over her. "Close the tent flap on the way out, will you? I drank enough to kill a horse last night."

"Raven." He took a deep breath. "We need your help."

"I need yours, too. Tent flap. Closed. Unless you have breakfast?"

"I'm serious."

"As am I. Do you have breakfast?"

"No."

"You prove yourself a constant disappointment, Qrow. I shouldn't be surprised by that, but I am."

"Atlas is under attack by Grimm."

"Gasp," Raven said. As in she said gasp. "I am shock."

"Salem is making her move."

"Grimm horde to C-1? This is why I told Ozpin his chess analogies were so fucking stupid. This is Sanus, right? Just checking."

"It is…"

"Good. Honestly, if you'd said this was Atlas I'd have had to go out and check. My head is real fuzzy. Anyway, it's Sanus. Grimm are over there. We're cool."

"Yang is out there."

"If I want a booty call, there are plenty of hookers in Mistral."

"YANG!" he yelled. "Your daughter. Not Taiyang!"

"I know. I know. Fuck. It was a joke." Raven tossed the blankets off and sat on the edge of her cot, yawning into one hand. Her hair was a mess. It always was, but it was messier today by far. There were rings under her eyes, denoting either no sleep or too much alcohol. Probably both. "You're unusually pissy today."

"Gee. I wonder why. Maybe it's because my nieces are risking their lives in Atlas while my sister is sat here being a callous bitch."

"Maybe. Nah, it probably is that."

Fucking hell. Raven brought out the worst in him. Hell, she brought out the worst in everyone. Qrow gripped Harbinger and tried his hardest to resist drawing. Even if she looked and acted out of it, he knew from experience she could flick a switch and match him in an instant. "Fuck this," he decided, spinning on one heel. "I don't know why I even bothered. I told Jaune this wouldn't work."

Raven's weapon thudded into the wooden beam, blocking off his exit.

"The fuck!?" he yelled, wrenching it out. "Did you just throw your sword at me!?"

"Ah, quit being a little bitch. I missed, didn't I?"

"I'd feel better if you said you were aiming for the wood instead of that you missed..."

"I was. Maybe. Hard to say, my head is spinning." That didn't make him feel any more confident, especially when she rose unsteadily. "Anyway, what was that? I was expecting you to be Ozpin's little bitch. Have you found a new sugar daddy? Is he treating you well, Qrow? Talk to your big sister. She worries."

Qrow gave her the middle finger she deserved. "I'm here on behalf of Jaune. You know, the new headmaster of Beacon. Also, the one who beat Cinder's ass."

"Is he the new host?"

"No. Ozpin is in a little boy."

"Is he Ozpin's toy, though? Makes no difference if he's following his orders."

"Jaune does his own thing. He actually disagreed on Ozpin more than once, and the hole Mistral thing was to capture him. Oz wanted to go off on his own and collect the Relics. Jaune decided that was a stupid idea and convinced him to stay at Beacon."

"Good. It is a stupid idea. Those things being locked away in their Vaults makes sense. Collect them and you're doing her work for her. What does he want with me? Don't tell me he thinks that just because it's a different guy, I'll come running back."

"Nothing of the sort. Jaune thinks you could offer your portals to ship some people in and out of Atlas. He basically just wants you for transport duty." Qrow scoffed. "Forget it, though. I told him you'd be a bitch about this. Can't wait to see the look on his face when I say I told you so."

"Transport duty, hm?" Raven grinned suddenly. "Alright."

"I'm going to milk it. Make him admit he was wrong. Get down on one knee and- and what now?" His head swivelled. "What did you just say?"

"You hard of hearing now? I've heard too much masturbating can make a man go blind. Maybe it affects hearing, too." Her grin grew when he seethed. "And I said alright, I'll help. He just wants portals, right? Get the civilians out and some huntsmen there. I'll do it."

His eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"Why? Why does it matter? I've said I'll help. That's enough, isn't it?"

"You never help. You're a selfish bitch."

"Careful. You'll make me blush. And isn't it obvious? What do you think happens if Salem wipes out Atlas and gets to kill every person there? Negativity." She snapped her fingers. "Negativity on such a scale that the world goes to shit. On the other hand, I spend what, a couple of hours, a day at most, helping ferry people out, and that goes away. Plus, you get a bunch of fresh idiots to fight and die to keep the people of Remnant safe." Raven smirked. "That includes me, you realise. Fight the good fight to keep me and mine safe."

Callous bitch. He'd been right the first time he said that. Raven didn't care about the people dying or the fate of Atlas, only that when Salem won there, she might come to Sanus and inconvenience the tribe. The only reason she was willing to help was to throw as many good men and women at Salem as possible.

"You're a real piece of work, Raven. A real piece of work."

"Is that any way to talk to the person saving your ass?" she asked, walking past him. Her red eyes creased. "And I can't wait to see you down on one knee, telling your new sugar daddy that he was right all along, and you were wrong. I'll even tell him to say `I told you so`. Fitting, hm?"

Son of a bitch…

No omake this week as I'm busy today on our event taking place this month. On that note, there will be no story updates on the week of the 23rd – 29th March. That's because I'll be at my event doing speeches, networking with guests and dealing with the ridiculous last-minute demands of the sponsors and judges. Not to mention fixing all the inevitable problems that crop up like, and this always happens, the slides, presentation material and display screens not working.

Next Chapter: 12th March

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